James Lovell to Abigail Adams

[dateline] Feb. 28. 1782

“Mr. Lovell, do let me entreat you, this thirtieth time, to write a few Lines to Mrs.
Adams. Are you not clearly convinced that it is { 284 } in vain for you to determine, as you have done, day after day, that you will go to
see her? You are betrayed, by a thousand Interruptions, not merely into Unpoliteness,
but really into Ingratitude to that Lady. If you do not feel for yourself, I pray
you to convince her that I am not insensible to her repeated kind Invitations and
other Proofs of her friendly Thoughtfulness of me.”

Stop, prithee, stop, Mary. I will write, this moment. Thou art indeed a good Woman.
What Pity 'tis, as Some Folks think, that you have not a better Husband!1

And now, my esteemed Friend, do you not willingly conceive that it is very difficult
for me to seize Hours sufficient to secure the great Pleasure of seeing you at Braintree.

Be assured that I am not yet so quit of pressing Business as to have found Leisure
to visit at the South West or North parts of this Town many Friends of my early Love
or my later Gratitude.

I have many Things to tell; many also to ask about. I will not omit any possible Opportunity
of doing both within the next Fortnight.2 In the mean time, be assured of the Reality of that Regard which is now jointly professed
by, Madam, Your obliged Friends,

1. Lovell was in Boston on leave from Congress for the first time in five years. He had
last attended Congress on 23 Jan. and later returned for a brief period of service,
3–16 April, but thereafter took up the duties of his new appointment as Continental
receiver of taxes in Massachusetts. See above, AA to Lovell, 8? Jan., and note 4 there.

2. Whether or not the Lovells visited AA at this time does not appear.